Zyprexa

Antipsychotics are intended for use against schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses.

However, attention deficit disorder is sometimes accompanied by temper outbursts and other disruptive behavior.

As a result, some doctors prescribe antipsychotics to these children to calm them down - a strategy that some doctors and parents say works.

The drugs, which typically cost several dollars per pill, are considered safer than older antipsychotics - at least in adults - but they still can have serious side effects, including weight gain, elevated cholesterol and diabetes.

Anecdotal evidence suggests similar side effects occur in children, but large-scale studies of youngsters are needed, Cooper said.

The researchers analyzed data on youngsters age 13, on average, who were involved in annual national health surveys.

The surveys involved prescriptions given during 119,752 doctor visits.

The researchers used that data to come up with national estimates.

Cooper said that some of the increases might reflect repeat prescriptions given to the same child, but he said that is unlikely and noted that his findings are similar to those from smaller studies.

The study appears in the March-April edition of the journal Ambulatory Pediatrics.

Heavy marketing by drug companies probably contributed to the increase, said Dr.

Daniel Safer, a psychiatrist affiliated w...

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